Camp Staff

Jane-Rachel Schonbrun

Jane-Rachel Schonbrun is a Jewish educator and community builder who has spent more than two decades working in a variety of Jewish communal organizations, including camps, JCCs, schools, synagogues, and social service agencies.  Prior to joining Camp Yavneh, she served as Director of Institutional Advancement at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires.  Before that, Jane-Rachel worked as Director of Foundation Relations at Avodah, as a Program Director at the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto, CA, and as Director of Student Life at Kehillah High School (also in Palo Alto). As a recipient of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship, Jane-Rachel earned her MS in Social Work from Columbia University and her MA in Jewish Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary's Graduate School.  A Baltimore native, Jane-Rachel studied as an undergraduate at the University of Maryland. Her college experience was enhanced by two years studying in Israel and summers leading teen programs in Israel, Poland, and across the U.S.   Jane-Rachel’s favorite camp activities include rikud (dance), all-things omanut (art), and swimming in the agam (lake).  When she’s not at camp, Jane-Rachel lives with her partner, Rabbi Aaron Schonbrun, and their four kids in Deal, NJ.

Netanel Spiegel

Netanel started as a member of Camp Yavneh Food Service (YFS) in the summer of 2012. He returned each subsequent summer, unable to shake his connection and love for Yavneh. With each summer that he returned, he seemed to stay a bit longer and take on more responsibility. As Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Camp Yavneh, Netanel continues to work tirelessly for camp and has earned the respect of many as someone who gets things done. He is thrilled for Kayitz 2022 and is excited for the unique challenge that every summer brings. Netanel spends his winters in Israel and counts down the days until summer to return to Northwood and be in the most special place on the planet!

Alanna Wolf

After a five year hiatus, Alanna Wolf is excited to be back for her 15th summer at Yavneh as Rosh Noar (Head of Upper Camp)! Alanna has served in many roles at camp - as a chanicha (K’08), madricha and rosh ayda, and she is a proud second generation Yavneh alum. Alanna also met her husband, Herschel Singer (K’09), at Yavneh! They currently reside in Northampton, MA, where she works as an occupational therapist.

Benjamin (Bentie) Rabinovitch

Benjamin (Bentie) Rabinovitch is a seasoned camp professional who has held leadership positions in a number of camps in Israel, Europe and America. Most recently he served as the Program Director for the Szarvas Fellowships for six years. In addition to his camp experience, Bentie serves as the Early Childhood and Lower School Social Worker at the Abraham Joshua Heschel School in Manhattan, a position he has held since 2017. Bentie received a masters degree in social work from The Silberman School of Social Work and has a certificate in experiential education from Yeshiva University. Bentie is looking forward to joining the Camp Yavneh family!

Michelle Rosenhek Zelermyer

Michi has now been at Yavneh for over five summers and is thrilled to be back again! Michi’s love of engaging youth and young families in meaningful Jewish ‘edutainment’ (education and entertainment) fits perfectly in the camping world. She earned her B.A. from Concordia University in Psychology, and a Master’s degree from McGill University, in a collaborative program of the Jewish Studies and Education departments. Very involved and active in her home community of Montreal, Michi loves the chance to learn about other Jewish communities each summer through her interactions and conversations with campers and staff from all over the U.S. She enjoys reading, traveling, being outdoors and playing sports, cooking, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends playing all sorts of board games and card games. Michi is married to Cantor Gideon Zelermyer and has two sons, Max and Ben, who look forward to their summers at camp too!

Estelle Lajmer Gomolka

Estelle is a 5th grade teacher at The Greater Boston SSDS. She is a graduate of Maimonides school. She is celebrating her 41st summer at Yavneh (K’79). She has held many positions at Yavneh including Rosh Banot(head girls counselor). Estelle has well over 20 years teaching swimming and holds her WSI, lifeguarding CPR and First Aid instructor. She is married to Guy and has two children.

Chana Israel

Chana is currently the Lead Teacher for Kindergarten and First Grade Judaics at the Hebrew Academy of the Capital District. She has directed Jewish educational programming over the past 20 years for students from pre-school through high school.  Chana has been a member of the chinuch staff for the past nine years and only three of her four children will be at camp this summer.

Sarah Gershman

Sarah is excited to return for her second summer working at camp as a yoetzet. She and Daniel have four children, three of whom are at camp this summer. Sarah runs an executive speech coaching firm called Green Room Speakers. Sarah is a children’s musical director and just co-directed a production of Frozen Jr. She loves swimming in the agam and is excited for Shabbat at camp.

Molly Goldberg – K’15

Shira Kaizler-Martin

Yonatan Kischinovsky

Yonatan Kischinovsky is a social entrepreneur from Shizaf, Israel. In 2011 he founded Derech Eretz, a nonprofit organization that provides pluralistic educational leadership programs to youth and young adults, making these programs accessible to those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Under Yonatan's leadership, Derech Eretz grew from 23 students in one program to over 200 students annually in 8 programs on 4 campuses, with a network of 1,200 alumni. Yonatan has a B.A. in Social Work from Tel Hai College and an M.A. in Conflict Management and Mediation from the Ben Gurion University of the Negev. He served in the IDF as a tank commander in the armored corps. He has taken a sabbatical from his post as CEO and together with his family is beginning their adventurous year by spending the summer with us at camp!

Roseanne Lesack

This will be Roseanne's 5th summer at Camp Yavneh as a yoetzet. Throughout her 19 summers at Jewish summer camp, Roseanne has also served as a counselor, rosh ayda, and rosh chinuch. Roseanne has three children at camp this summer and spends her time in Bala Cynwyd, PA as a child psychologist while she counts down the days for camp to begin.

Rhonda Lake Cohen

Rhonda is thrilled to be back at Camp Yavneh as Business Administrator after attending camp from 1978 through 1983. She tells everyone she meets that Camp Yavneh truly shaped her as a person and that camp is one of her favorite childhood memories. Rhonda earned a BSEE from Tufts University and an MBA from Northeastern University. Rhonda recently relocated back to the Boston area after spending over 25 years in Morris County, New Jersey, where she and her late husband Mike raised two daughters, Allison and Deanna. She spent most of her career in engineering, but more recently, was the business manager for her town’s public library. In her free time, Rhonda enjoys reading, going to the gym, watching sports and traveling.

Ethan Naviasky – K’15

Ethan is excited to continue his time at Yavneh as the Operations Coordinator. During the summer, he helps manage the daily operations of Camp to ensure a smooth running of Camp Yavneh. During the year his responsibilities include: coordinating retreats, communications and social media, project management, and much more. Ethan has been at Yavneh for over a decade as a camper (K'15), counselor, rosh aydah (unit head), and operations associate and is now living in Boston.

Shirah Rubin

Shirah Rubin’s work in Jewish education focuses on creative arts-based learning in Jewish educational frameworks.  Her past positions include Director of Education and Administration at BIMA at Brandeis; Art Department Head at Gann Academy; Director of Arts and Culture at Brown/RISD Hillel; and Director of Congregational Learning at Kehillath Israel. She is a sculptor who works in mixed media and has worked in ceramics, mosaics, glass and photography, often combining these media. She enjoys expressing ideas and feelings in a visual language using materials appropriate to the metaphorical, historical and social elements of a project. As a teaching artist she has developed art and professional development workshops for audiences ranging from pre-k through adult students and teachers in settings ranging from museums to universities. This year Shirah has participated in IAC Gvanim, a leadership program of the Israeli American Council in Boston. Shirah is excited to be serving as the new Director of Family Camp in 2020.

Suzi Polirer

Suzi Polirer, RN, has been on the nursing staff of Camp Yavneh since 1991! In addition to her B.S. in Nursing, NHTI 1982, Suzi has an A.B. from CCNY. She began her career as a teacher at MTJ in NY and she switched careers entering nursing and serving in the ER, endoscopy and finally transitioning to elementary school nursing in Florida in 2002. Suzi brings her broad spectrum of lifelong learning and nursing skills to the Marp – her summer home on Lucas Pond. Suzi is married to Rabbi Richie and their four children are Yavneh alums - Jonathan, Eric, Meredith and Daniel. Soon, her grandchildren will be among the chanichim at Yavneh, too!

Stacey Wyner

Stacey Wyner, APRN, FNP, joined the Marp staff in 2009. Her first experience with Yavneh was as a counselor in 1991 for Kfirim girls, then returned for Family Camp for a few summers with her husband and four children. Stacey has been working as a nurse practitioner for the past 20 years. Eighteen years were spent in a family practice in Connecticut and the last two years have been spent in a School-Based Health Clinic providing healthcare to underserved teens. Her children have all loved camp, only the younger two remain at Yavneh as campers. She is looking forward to another great summer at Yavneh.

Ariella Schiowitz

Ariella is a fun, outgoing individual who loves to meet new people and try new things.

Eilat Flor

Eilat Flor is a photographer, who loves capturing people’s joy and connections in her images. She has a degree in Design and Photography from the Wizo Design Academy. She lives on Kibbutz Ein Hamifratz, which her grandparents helped found, where she is very involved with the community. She is the proud mother of her son, Sivan, the 4th generation to live on the kibbutz. Eilat is a part of a Kadur Reshet team (like newcomball) in the MAMANET league (for moms over 30 years old!). Eilat discovered her love for North American summer camps at Camp Pripstein’s (outside Montreal) for 10 years in the 1990’s-2000’s and is so excited to join the Yavneh community for kayitz 2022!

Ann Lapin

Ann Lapin and her family live in Riverdale, NY. Year-round she teaches young children in Hebrew School and adults for "boot camp" but nothing is as exciting as being a professional (volunteer) mom to newborns before they are adopted or return to their biological families. If outdoors, Ann has to be in the sun.. Which means she is NEVER without sunscreen. Even in October! Jewish value that is very close to her heart is Hachnasat orchim, which means welcoming guests and is very important to her family. Ann looks forward to returning to a time when we can safely share meals with friends and neighbors in her home!

Amy Meltzer

Amy is a speech language pathologist and works for the North Shore Consortium in Beverly, MA and also for Peer Projects Therapy from the Heart in Beverly, MA. She works with children and young adults.  Her favorite outdoor activity is playing ball games with her family like kickball and soccer. Amy can't leave home without her pink glasses and pillow! It might surprise people that she is bringing her guitar. The Jewish tradition where the parents bless their children on Friday nights is very close to Amy's heart. She has fond memories of her grandmother blessing her parents, of her parents blessing herself and her husband, and of her husband blessing their children over the years at the Shabbat table.  

Rachel Perdue

Rachel has been working as a professional artist for over 25 years. She has experience in painting, sculpture, graphic design, ceramics and art consulting. This is Rachel’s second summer at Camp Yavneh and she is looking forward to working with campers in the art room and creating a variety of projects. Three of her four children will be at camp with her and we are all excited for a new experience.

David Schlacht

After a career in technology at DirecTv, David has turned his passion for photography into a second career. David enjoys spending summers at camp and can be found shooting photos of the milky way, meteor showers or lightning when not photographing campers or Whale Watching nearby,

Lihi Trock

Nadav Ziri

This is Nadav’s first summer at camp. He is from a town called Shoham in Israel. In December of last year, Nadav was released from the IDF after 3 years of service as a media specialist. This summer he will be joining us as a media specialist and will be a part of Mishlachat 2022!

Amiel Abir

Amiel studied archaeology and history at Hebrew University and has worked internationally in Experimental Archaeology. He is coming back to Yavneh for his 3rd summer with his family and could not be more excited to be part of the Yavneh family.

Yonit Cohen

Yonit has been teaching formally for 28 years but really for her whole life! Yonit teaches at Barak Hebrew Academy in Philadelphia as a morah l’ivrit(Hebrew teacher). This is Yonit’s 7th summer at Yavneh. She has three children. Her youngest will be attending Yavneh this summer for her sixth summer and her two eldest are in the Israeli army.

Adina Deutsch

Adina is thrilled to be coming back to Camp Yavneh for her 14th summer. As Rosh Mishlachat, her summers are spent guiding our Israeli madrichim (counselors) and planning high energy Israeli-themed activities and special programs in Hebrew, including Yom Israel celebrations. During the year, Adina lives in Efrat, Gush Etzion, and is a trained Physical Therapist who works with children with disabilities in schools, and with kindergarten children with autism. Through the Israeli Ministry of Education, she mentors other physical therapists. But mostly, Adina and her children count down the days until they can come back to their home away from home at Yavneh!

Mica Felsztyna

Mica is from Cordoba, Argentina and has a degree from the Institute of Physical Education and a diploma in Aerobic training. Mica’s specialty as an Air Aerobic teacher has been a hit at camp. This is Mica’s 6th summer at Yavneh. Mica is married to Marcelo.

Jonathan Gomolka- K’13

Jonathan is super excited to be back at Camp as Rosh Drama! Year round, Jonathon is an actor living in New York City and holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Pace University. Jonathon's favorite activity at camp is swimming in the Agam! When packing for camp, Jonathon can’t forget to bring his mother, Estelle. Jonathon has never been at camp without her, and this summer won’t be any different! A jewish value that is close to Jonathon's heart is Yom Hashoah. All four of Jonathan's Grandparents survived the Holocaust - and telling their stories is one of the biggest mizvot one can perform.

Lisa Labat

Lisa has studied yoga for about 20 years and would teach prior to the pandemic. Now she is a homeschool mom for 2 wonderful kids. Lisa's favorite outdoor activity is hanging out with family and animals, she has 6 goats, 30+ chickens and 3 dogs! The item that she is bringing to camp is her kindle. The item that she bringing to camp that might surprise people is her yoga chimes. The Jewish tradition that is close to Lisa's heart is Yom Kippur. It is important to learn from your mistakes and make amends so that one can continually grow and evolve from a space of truth, forgiveness and love.

Julie Leshem

Julie has been working with clay for over 30 years. She has a studio in Jerusalem where she creates Ceramic Judaica and stoneware pieces and teaches small groups of children and adult, along with workshops. Julie makes pottery to sell during the year. Julie lives in Israel with her husband and family.

Marcelo Marianoff

Marcelo is an Israeli Dance Teacher and choreographer from Cordoba, Argentina. In addition to teaching at the local Jewish school and Maccabi Club, Marcelo also teaches dance in camps, festivals and workshops all over the world. Some of the places that he travels include Switzerland, England, Peru, Finland, Turkey, Costa Rica, France, Russia, Venezuela, Panama, and Northwood, New Hampshire. This is Marcelo's nineth summer at Yavneh.

Jayne Miller

This is Jayne’s 16th summer bringing her craft to Yavneh. Jayne is skilled in and has taught spinning, quilting, enameling, jewelry and other subjects. She has taken and taught numerous art workshops over many years. She is married to Barry and has three children at Yavneh.

Sarah Rovin

Sarah is a first year Rabbinical student at Hebrew College. Before moving to Boston to start school she worked as a JOFEE (Jewish outdoor food farming and environmental Education) Educator at Pearlstone for several years. In her free time Sarah enjoys singing with her friends and spending quality time with her bunny Rabbit Akiva! Sarah's favorite outdoor activity is a tie between camping and biking. Something surprising that Sarah is bringing to camp is her stuffed duck named Edward. She made him at one of those build a bear places when she was 12. Sarah loves Shavuot and Sukkot, partly because they bookend the growing season giving us a chance to step back and be amazed at creation and the abundance of our world.

Jana Silver

Jana Silver currently teaches part-time at Boston University. She has an MFA in Ceramics and an Ed.D in Teacher Education from UMass, Amherst.  The courses she has designed and taught throughout her career as a teacher educator explore topics and questions in the fields of Art Education, Arts Integration and Social Justice Education through Art. She has taught art for over 25 years to children and adults locally and internationally. Her ceramic art is sold and exhibited nationwide and she has received numerous grants and awards in support of her teaching and art-making.

Jake Smith

Jake started singing at the age of 5 and went on to sing in competitive small ensembles and choirs. Studied as a soloist (with Bill Reed, Chuck Schneider, Lauri Young, and Amy Williams) from 15 on and Majored in Musical Theatre Performance (with a double minor in Psychopathology and Classical Literature) at Wagner College in NYC. He played clarinet in the VYO for several years and later picked up Piano and then Guitar. He sings as a Tenor section leader in the world renowned Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue Choir under the direction of Roi Azoulay. He won a Juno award for album of the year and a Grammy award for Rock Performance of the year for his work on Leonard Cohen's "You Want it Darker".

Talia Abir

Talia feels extremely blessed to have been a part of the Machane Yavneh mishapacha since 2000. She has been at camp in the various roles of chanicha, madricha, tzevet agam, rosh aydah as well as co-rosh gan. This is her first year as a morah at camp and she is so excited! She comes with her husband Amiel, also a moreh this summer, as well as their two daughters who will be in the gan. Talia is passionate about fostering a love for community as well as sharing her deep love for Israel. She can’t wait to meet all of you!

Shir Amira

Shir is looking forward to her third year at Yavneh. She has been a counselor and part of the Israeli Mishlachat for two years and now is returning as a first year teacher. Shir is currently a third year student at David Yellin college in Jerusalem and is excited to start her final year and internship as an English teacher in Tel Aviv. Outside of university Shir enjoys cooking, reading and spending time with friends. She is happy to bring a part of Israel to camp and Kita, and to share her love for the Jewish nation with the campers.

Rabba Aliza Libman Baronofsky

Rabba Aliza Libman Baronofsky has been a teacher of Jewish children for over fifteen years. She currently teaches at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, MD and previously taught at the Maimonides School in Brookline, MA. When studying Torah, Rabba Aliza likes to bring in her other passions - for math, reading, current events and musical theater - so that Torah becomes the lens with which we view the world, and nothing in our lives is separate from Torah. Rabba Aliza was ordained by Yeshivat Maharat in June 2022. A native of Canada, Rabba Aliza lives in Aspen Hill, MD with her husband and two children.

Yonah Berman

Rav Yonah Berman is a faculty member at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in Riverdale, New York. He grew up in both the US and Israel, and has spent time rabbi-ing and teaching in Montreal, Boston and New York. He loves being a bridge between people and Torah, and between different communities. Rav Yonah lives in New York City with his family and can’t wait to see you at camp!

Sara Birnbaum

Sara Birnbaum has more than 17 years of experience in synagogue schools, Jewish camps and United Synagogue Youth. Sara recently served as the educational director at Congregation Shaarei Tikvah in Scarsdale, NY. Sara received her MSW from YU and her Bachelor’s in Family Studies from Hofstra University. In addition, she began her Rabbinical studies at JTS and is continuing at the Academy for Jewish Religion. Sara and her husband Dan enjoy spending free time with their four children (all at Yavneh this summer) traveling, bike riding, spending time at the beach and playing sports.

Rabbi Micah Citrin

Micah is co-rabbi and educator at Temple Beth David in Westwood, MA. A graduate of the University of Oregon, Micah received his smicha from the Hebrew Union College (HUC-JIR) in Los Angeles and holds a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education from HUC-JIR. Micah spent many memorable summers as a camper, counselor, song leader, rosh aydah and director of education in California. Most importantly, Micah is abbato 4th grade twins Itai and Yonah.

Roy Dar

Roy Dar is a Sabra married to an American who practically grew up at Camp Yavneh. He served as a commander in the artillery unit in the IDF and now works as a counselor for people with intellectual disabilities. He has simultaneously spent the past couple years learning intensively at the Machon Meir Yeshiva. He loves to write stories, play guitar, and learn mishnayot. He is grateful for the opportunity to be on the chinuch staff and is so looking forward to Kayitz 22!

Rabba Rachel Kohl Finegold

Rabba Rachel - pronounced the Hebrew way, “Rakhel”, serves as a member of the clergy at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim in Montreal. Rabba Rachel serves as clergy at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim in Montreal, where she crafts educational experiences for adults and children of all ages. From the age of eight, Rabba Rachel was a camper, counselor and rosh eidah at several Jewish camps around the northeast. She received her B.A. in Religion from Boston University, is a graduate of the Drisha Scholars Circle, and received her rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Maharat. Rabba Rachel believes that the "bubble" of summer camp provides a unique opportunity for Jewish learning and personal growth, for both chanichim and madrichim. She is excited for her second summer at Yavneh, along with two of her three daughters!

Shuky HaCohen

Shuky Hacohen is very excited to be back at Camp Yavneh. Shuky has a bachelor’s degree in Judaic Studies. He has experience in both formal and informal education, teaching Hebrew at schools, mentoring children with special needs, and running leadership programs and culinary electives at summer camps. Shuky grew up in Jerusalem, and loves hiking and camping around Eretz Yisrael. He moved to New York a few years ago, with his wife Adina. Shuky works in health insurance, but much prefers spending time cooking, and hanging out with his two little boys Gavi (4) and Eitan (10 months).  

Rabbi Richard Polirer

I am Rabbi Richard Polirer, aka Rabbi Richie at Camp Yavneh. I am on the Tzevet Morim, the teaching staff. I also tutor bar and bat mitzvah students at camp. My wife is nurse Suzi, and she serves as head nurse in the Marp, the health center at Yavneh. We live in South Florida, having relocated from Manchester, NH in 1996. Our four children all went to Yavneh, starting in 1986; all eventually served on staff, and two even become Roshei Aydah. Suzi and I joined Yavneh as staff members in 1992, and we have been here ever since ! I enjoy swimming the Agam in the summer, reading all kinds of history books, and lecturing on American and Jewish histories at libraries and to groups.

Mollie Sullum

This is Mollie' s first time at Camp Yavneh. Mollie has been teaching at an Israeli pluralistic elementary school for the past 5 years, just recently 2nd grade. In addition to receiving her B.A. in education she recently got her M.A. in Society and the Arts/ Challenges in Social Change. Besides teaching Mollie loves reading at the beach, advocating for social change and creating hand -crafted items for friends and family.  

Adina Zablocki-Hacohen

Adina Zablocki-Hacohen is thrilled to be returning to Camp Yavneh where she spent 12 summers as a chanicha (K’03), counselor and rosh aydah. During the year Adina works at The Heschel School in Manhattan, as a Judaic Studies teacher and sixth grade dean. Adina moved to New York a few years ago with her husband Shuky. She grew up in Israel, and served in the IDF as a commander and teacher for new immigrant soldiers. Adina studied Bible, Jewish History and Education at Hebrew University. Adina is a second generation Yavneh alum and is excited for her children Gavi (4) and Eitan (10 months) to be joining the Yavneh family as well!